The plums are usually one of the first out of the gate.

This pear is just starting to bloom, while another variety has already finished.

This one’s just peachy!

Apples are a bit behind the rest of the gang.

This cherry tree was blown horizontal in a storm two years ago and I didn’t have the heart to take it out, and it looks like it’s making a case to stay, even though the trunk is horizontal – easy picking from the top of the tree!

A close-up of the cherry blossoms.

Mushroom logs are beginning to set fruit as well.

Garlic is looking on target as well.

It’s still snowing and already both the highest May snowfall ever and most snow ever for the month of May (and there’s still 28 days left!).

These lilac leaves didn’t have a chance.

A country road in May.

With scrap prices fairly high, instead of taking it to the landfill, I’ve been getting around $60 bucks a trailer load and have scrounged up four loads so far.  It’s a triple win – the farm gets cleaned up, the metal gets recycled and I get paid to do it!

The first stop, was of course, Reykjavík, the largest city, consisting of about 120,000 people.

An Icelandic harbor.

Can you say layers?  Claire’s got it down.

The Lutherans do it up in grand style in Iceland!.

Claire’s comment on this outfit: “Icelandic fashion, go home, you’re drunk”.

I hope she doesn’t drag this fellow home!.

Beware Vikings ahead!  Claire was quoted in an article in the Copenhagen paper asking about American impressions of what Vikings are like.

She had a chance to do all the things you’re supposed to do/see in Iceland.

This at the Whale Fjord.  The only picture out of water where she isn’t bundled up!

An Icelandic farm with the famous Icelandic horses. This breed is the only kind of horse in Iceland. Importing any horse is illegal, and if one of these leaves the country it cannot ever come back.

Here she is with one of the horses.

They took the horses on a ride through the countryside.

The intriguing Gullfoss waterfalls .

Another view of the falls.

In Claire’s own words “The most awkward titanic photo ever!”

Another of Iceland’s features are the geysers.  in fact, this place geysir is where the word “geyser” comes from.

Thar she blows, this one, every five minutes.

Of course, there are hot springs from all the geothermal activity. This is the BLue Lagoon.

How cool is it to be in water in Iceland?.

Out in the countryside.

This crack is where the european and north american plates meet.

With some fellow students at a late sunset near the harbor.

Marshalltown High School is once again the state Envirothon champion.

MHS Team 1, comprised of juniors Abby Snyder, Adam Willman and Ilene Finn and seniors Joe Metzger and Emma Runquist placed first at the state contest Monday, April 15, at Springbrook State Park in Guthrie Center. The team placed first in Wildife and Oral Presentation categories, placing overall ahead of Des Moines FFA by 3.75 points.

The title earns them a trip to the North American championship this summer in Bozeman, Montana.

Sixteen teams competed at the state competition, and about 60 teams competed at statewide regional competitions. The contest consisted of four outdoor stations covering forestry, wildlife, soils, and aquatics as well as a 15-minute oral presentation on this year’s current issue of range-land management.

No such luck this year.  After donning the chaps and steel-toes, I was able to cut down all the willows.  This is a shot after the fact as we are collecting them all for the burn pile. I’m keeping them coppiced for ornamental and forage purposes.

The few days it gets above 32, a bit of sap runs and then it freezes.

More snow last night.  I had the pleasure of driving back and forth to Iowa City to pick up Linda from her weekend in Chicago. Love that drive with the snow, wind, slush, and semis!

Tube length = (Speed of sound/2*frequency) plus (Tube diameter/2)

Of course, first he had to calculate the speed of sound = (Tube length – tube diameter/2) * 2 * frequency

But first, he had to have a way to get the frequency, and there is a neat Kindle tuner app that shows the frequency and note.

At any rate, without further ado, Martin playing his home-made instrument!

And a photo in case the video is too slow.

This was the first year a tree I planted was big enough to tap!

We’ve had precipitation 10 out of 14 days so far this month.  I’m ready for some sunshine!